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CDS condemns use of chemical weapons by Assad regime

The Coalition for a Democratic Syria strongly condemned on Saturday the use of chemical weapons against opposition areas in Homs by Bashar al-Assad's Syrian regime and called upon the international community to take action.

Opposition activists in the Khalidiya district of Homs reported that sarin gas may have been used again, posting multiple videos of people affected by the attack. The videos indicate that sarin or other more dangerous chemical attacks could have been used.

In June, the White House officially confirmed the presence of credible evidence that Assad's regime used chemical weapons on multiple occasions. The CDS said the attack requires decisive and swift action by the U.S. and the international community.

"The Assad regime is both bold enough and desperate enough to continue using chemical weapons against the opposition, even with strong international warnings," Yahia Basha, a CDS board member, said. "The international community must go further now and actively prevent the use of chemical weapons, and provide the Syrian people with the means necessary to treat and protect themselves from chemical and other attacks by the Assad regime."

The CDS is a group of Syrian-American, non-profit organizations collaborating to bring about a fast end to the conflict in Syria and support the establishment of freedom, peace and democracy. CDS members include the Association of Free Syrians, Syrian Christians for Democracy, Syrian Expatriates Organization, Syrian American Alliance, Syrian American Council, United for Free Syria and Syrian Emergency Task Force.